Chinese victim of ‘virtual kidnapping’ rescued by Thai police

10 Sept 20:02 Key points summarised by AI

Thai police rescued a 21-year-old Chinese student from a 'virtual kidnapping' scam orchestrated by a transnational gang.
The gang forced the student to stage her own abduction, including recording a video with fake injuries, to demand HK$3 million (12.5 million baht) in ransom from her parents.
Her parents, suspicious after a previous ransom payment in May, alerted Hong Kong police, who then coordinated with Thai authorities to locate and rescue her.
Police believe the student was under mental control by the scam gang, compelling her to follow instructions for the elaborate fake kidnapping.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Yesterday 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.